Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Harty on bringing forward this legislation. I know he has put a lot of work into it and he has gone out of his way to bring everybody else on board in terms of briefings. The Bill is an important piece of work which very much replicates work that has been done by other Members in recent times, in particular Deputy Pringle.

There is a very strong desire on the part of many Members of this House to take a rights-based approach to the provision of services. In an ideal system, there would be a recognition of the principle of equality and the importance of treating all citizens equally and fairly. Unfortunately, that is not what we have seen since the beginning of this State. Whichever of the main Civil War parties has been in government, neither of them at any point has set out a course of action in government to uphold people's right to equality and access to services.

One might say, politically, that should be the ambition and the determination of any civilised modern government but, unfortunately, we have not seen that kind of approach to the rights of individuals at any stage within this State by ruling parties. For that reason, at this point, and in the area of health in particular, there is no excuse given that we now have the Sláintecare plan, an agreed all-party plan for a universal single-tier health service. The plan is there and, in theory, all parties have signed up to it yet we are not seeing it implemented. The only way that we can approach this, if we are serious about having the kind of fair, universal single-tier health service that responds to people's needs for health and social care, the same kind of service that is available in every other European country, is that we would expect all Governments and parties to be enthusiastic and active on its implementation. Unfortunately, that has not happened and because of the failure of this Government and the other Civil War party to take a rights-based approach to the provision of healthcare, which is one of the most fundamental public services and one of the most fundamental rights that any civilised society can have, I believe we have no choice but to pursue the constitutional route. I wholeheartedly support the approach taken by Deputy Harty. The Social Democrats are proud to support this Bill.

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